Cheryl Cole, who is worth £12million, came second in the list, followed by X Factor winner Leona Lewis who has apparently also made £12million. Joss Stone came in fifth place, rounding off the all-female top five.

Steve Redmond from the Entertainment Retailers Association, said in The Sun: ‘Adele’s been the success story of the past year by a mile. You only get an Adele once every ten years. It’s success on a ginormous scale.’

It may be some time before Adele rakes in any more millions, as the Tottenham-born singer has admitted her new album could be a good two years away.

She said: ‘If I didn’t write my own songs, I’d be out next week with a new album.’I have to take time and live a little bit. There were a good two years between my first and second albums, so it’ll be the same this time.’